Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • C1

WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 C1 00 1 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 SECTION STATE JOURNAL STAFF Some people may wonder if it matters all that much to provide a Christmas gift for a child who would not otherwise have one. We received a letter last week that shows how much it does. The donation check to the Empty Stock- ing Club came with this note: in memory of my father, who told me that when he and his six broth- ers and sis- ters and par- ents moved to Madison in the mid they were so poor they have had a Christmas if it for the Empty Stocking Club. Bless Every year at this time, we see notes like this when we open the mail. Children who have been helped in the past tend to grow into adults who remember what that was like.

And many times, if they can, they want to return the favor. In this case, the next generation is honoring the child from long ago. Since 1918, the Wisconsin State Journal and its readers have brightened the holidays for impoverished children and their families through a partner- ship that resonates today. Each year, readers donate money, and the State Journal buys the toys, es the families and sets up the distribution ort. Last year, the Empty Stocking Club served about 4,000 families, giving away 15,000 toys.

In honor of the 100th anniversary, the State Journal is hoping to raise $300,000 this year to serve even more children. We are hoping you will consider helping us reach that number. You never know what your gift will inspire. Please consider being part of the Empty Stocking Club tradi- tion. newspaper con- tains a donation envelope for your convenience.

You can also contribute online at go.madison. or mail your donation to: The Empty Stocking Club Wisconsin State Journal Box 8056 Madison, WI 53708 Recipients often turn into givers BELLEVILLE Grass had sprouted in the gutters, the masonry was in need of repair, and the shingles, joists and other roof components had rotted. been decades since Lim- burger cheese was stored in the basement, while bikes instead of locomotives now make up the tra on the adjacent railroad bed that has been converted to the Badger State Trail. But the char- acter of the former railroad depot here remains, along with potential. And why the village of Belleville began renovations last week on the historic structure in an ort to bring new life to the building that sits across the street from where ground will be broken next year for a public library.

unclear what type of business will ultimately occupy the depot, constructed in 1888 by the Chicago, Madison Northern Railroad. But cials here are bullish on the facility and are dent its location and history will be a draw for an entrepreneur looking for a unique location in a community that oozes history, sits along the Sugar River in southern Dane County and has retained its small-town charm. just one of the coolest buildings in said Rick Francois, head of the Community Development Au- thority (CDA), whose family has owned a car dealership in the community since 1939. the history and just the possibilities on that bike corridor, it could be just a huge draw for The village purchased the depot last month for $250,000 from Landmark Service Corp. and on Tuesday work crews be- gan a $160,000 project to tear the roof and replace joists and shingles as part of the rst phase of restoring the building.

The village expects to spend an additional $600,000 to make the depot ready for a possible tenant. Brian Wilson, the vil- administrator, clerk and treasurer, said the goal is to have an operating business in the depot by early 2020 once the full restoration is com- pleted. next step is for the CDA to nd someone who would want to come in there and open that as a business Wilson said. Passenger rail service to the village ended more than 50 years ago, and freight service was halted in the 1980s. The depot and surrounding prop- erty was ultimately purchased by Union Cooperative and later was owned by Landmark.

The depot had been used by the cooperatives for ces and fer- tilizer and seed corn storage but the building has been vacant in recent years while other build- ings on the property had been removed by Landmark. Rolling toward a new life EMPTY STOCKING CLUB Inside List: The latest donors to the Empty Stocking Club. C2 SHELLEY K. MESCH For many comic book col- lectors, the hobby is nostalgic. Adults with 9-to-5 jobs can look back at an issue of Amazing or and remember their childhoods.

also a hobby that could bring in some cash. Dealers at Madi- son Comic Book Convention set up thousands and thousands of comic books, each issue neatly placed in a plastic sleeve with a piece of cardboard to prevent bending. Many books were priced for just a few dollars. Some cost even less, but a handful were priced much, much higher. It the type of event many people have come to expect when thinking of a Instead of a large spectacle with celebrity meet and greets, newly produced toys and attendees dressed as re- alistic versions of their favorite characters, this was a more low- key event catering to collectors looking to pick up their favorite comics on a weekend afternoon.

There are generally two types of comic book collectors: those who love to read them and those who invest in them, attendees said. Both types thumbed through comic book boxes in the small meeting space in the Haw- thorn Suites hotel in Fitchburg, comparing the books available to their lists of issues that would ll holes in their personal collections. Certain popular or rare issues, known as key issues to collectors, come with cantly higher price tags than others rang- ing from a few dollars to tens of thousands. There is even a pric- ing guide printed each year to help dealers identify which of their is- sues will go for what prices, sim- ilar to the Kelley Blue Book used for cars. As with cars, comic book prices can uctuate based on con- dition and popularity.

With a steady stream of block- buster superhero movies, comics Comic con brings nostalgia, income AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL Patrick Foard, left, of Tomah, looks through the comic books of Marquette County collector Ron Siebert, right, at Madison Comic Book Convention. Foard and his wife, Stacy, came to the convention to search for issues on their 15-year-old Christmas list, though they both like reading the books, as well. ON WISCONSIN BELLEVILLE long unused rail depot next to Badger State Trail is being repurposed AMBER ARNOLD PHOTOS, STATE JOURNAL The historic Belleville railroad depot, constructed in 1888, was purchased last month by the village. Workers last week began a $760,000 restoration project designed to attract a business that could be a regional draw to the village. The depot sits along the Badger State Trail.

Names and dates cover the exterior wall of the Belleville train depot. The building is undergoing restoration but cials are hoping to keep the etchings on the walls. BARRY ADAMS Please see WISCONSIN, Page C11 Please see COMIC CON, Page C3 mononabank.com WelcomeEllen to Monona homemortgage team. Member FDIC 2615 Westview Court Cross Plains, WI 53528 (608) 824-3232 Contact Ellen at our Cross Plains Office For All Your Mortgage Needs. Ellen Bernards AVP, Mortgage Lending NMLS YO UR OM FO OM OR TG AG ES.